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Updated at 7:51 p.m. ET Sen. Al Franken, D-Minn., plans to announce his resignation on Thursday, a Democratic official tells Minnesota Public Radio . The official spoke to Franken and key aides, MPR News reports. Franken's office, however, says that " no final decision has been made ." If Franken resigns, Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat, would appoint Franken's successor, who would serve until a special election is held in 2018. The winner of that special election would serve out the...

Rochester NY – The American Classical Music Hall of Fame is honoring the founder of the Eastman Wind Ensemble. Frederick Fennell has been selected as one of this year's inductees. The director of the Eastman School of Music calls Fennell " a music legend". The induction ceremony will take place April 21st in Cincinnati Ohio.

Rochester NY – The University of Rochester Medical Center will receive over one million dollars from the American Cancer Society. The grant will go towards helping medical researchers understand the cause of nausea from chemotherapy. Nausea is one of the most serious side effects from undergoing chemotheraphy treatment for cancer.Scientists have recently developed new drugs that better control vomiting. But they are not as effective when it comes to reducing nausea.

Rochester NY – 116 acres of land in Monroe and Livingston Counties have been purchased by the State of New York. The purchase includes 68 acres of Burger Park in the town of Greece. And 48 acres of land on Conesus Lake in the town of Conesus.Conservationists are happy with the State's decision because it will allow more land to be preserved not only for wildlife. But also for residents who enjoy the outdoors and recreational sports like fishing.It will cost the State $670,000 to purchase the 116 acres of property in both counties.

Rochester NY – Testifying before the U S Senate Commerce Committee, Congresswoman Louise Slaughter said Congress must send a clear message to the Bush Administration to stop proposed mergers between major airlines. Slaughter said the mergers would limit competition and result in higher air fares. Currently Rochester has some of the highest airfares in the nation.

Rochester NY – A Rochester-area medical practice has agreed to pay the federal government $2 million in fines for sending false bills to Medicare.

The U.S. Department of Justice says the seven cardiac surgeons falsely billed Medicare for assistant surgeons' fees. Blue Cross/ Blue Shield of the Rochester Area has also filed a $1.2 million dollar lawsuit against the same doctors. Blue Cross claims they submitted fraudulent billing over a five year period involving over 1,800 cases.

News from NPR

FBI Director Christopher Wray testifies Thursday before the House Judiciary Committee, where he's expected to face a grilling about the Russia investigation led by Department of Justice special counsel Robert Mueller as well as a number of other pressing law enforcement issues.

In his tiny kitchen, chef Thitiwat Tantragarn throws a handful of raw bamboo caterpillars into a hot skillet and sautés them with olive oil, paprika, cumin, salt and pepper. Seconds later, the cream-colored larvae are crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Tantragarn adds white wine, then spoons the bugs, brown beady eyes and all, over grilled scallops and Jerusalem artichokes before sending the plate out to the dining room.

The fierce Santa Ana winds that have driven massive wildfires in Southern California could get even stronger Thursday, officials warned, as four fires near Los Angeles grew to engulf more than 115,000 acres.

Forecasters are predicting wind gusts of up to 80 mph, likely grounding helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft that can drop water on the blazes.

From the Inclusion Desk

New York faces fiscal challenges in 2018, but that has not stopped groups from asking for more money in the new state budget, including agencies that provide care to people with disabilities.

Chanting, “Be fair to direct care,” about 200 New Yorkers with developmental disabilities, along with their family members and caregivers, gathered in a reception area outside Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s office Wednesday to ask for more help in paying the workers more money.

When you're facing a major life change, it helps to talk to someone who has already been through it. All Things Considered is connecting people on either side of a shared experience, and they're letting us eavesdrop on their conversations in our series Been There.

James Carmody never had any doubt that he would go to college. He loved learning, he worked hard and he was excited to make a positive impact on the world.

A Rochester tradition continues this year at Holy Childhood and their new Special Touch Bakery.

Over 2,400 pies are being baked for the Thanksgiving holiday at Special Touch this week. The facility’s primary mission is to provide training and employment for people in our community with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

With pies stacked taller than my head, Director of Bakery Operations Joe Perdicho showed me around the bakery floor, which has been open for about a month now. He says there has been a lot of positive energy coming from the community.